September 29, 2009

1)Keep a record of my symptoms/treatments, research and ideas for my treatments etc.

2)Also I wanted to let people know about the research and books that I have found that helped me, on the chance that they may be able to help you all(and anyone else you share this information with). I have been so blessed and much of the time have felt led by the hand to these conclusions, I thank you God!

3) A third thing that I have gotten from this blog that I didn't expect is meeting others on the same or close paths, and teaming up with other like-minded people. I have been on a few Lupus yahoo groups and to be honest I usually get kicked off because I am too passionate about nutrition and lifestyle and healing and I don't want to discuss medications/pharmaceuticals(for the record I am not against anyone taking pharmaceuticals I just want people to know that there is another option.)

I am a teacher/researcher in life. When I find out something I ask why, how and I usually make a bee-line to the library or the computer to research.

Armed with this knowledge, I try to make a difference each day, but many times people don't want to hear that they may have to change their diet or their lifestyle.

Please God help people accept the power they have over their own health and their own eating. Let them know the GREATNESS that they can acheive through You and eating from Your garden of healthy foods... just the way You created them. Amen.

September 28, 2009

Go back to basics, eat what is in the produce aisle/better yet the farm stand! Get rid of all those packages from the store. No cans, bottles, pasteurized things, bags...this seems to be the leading message in everything I read lately. Here's another view on eating for health.

4) Support and rebuild your inherited propensity for weakened areas in your family heritage.

5) Every morning and before meals drink lemon and water.

6) First stop putting into your body what shouldn't be there. Then eat a smorgasbord of nutrients in their correct form, on a meal to meal basis, every day of your life. Let your body pick and choose what it needs.

7) Eliminate table salt and use only balanced , unrefined sea salt.

8) Eat mostly raw foods, untouched the way they were created in nature.

9) Chew your food until it is liquid before swallowing.

10) Take enzymes before and with cooked foods.

11) Try not to drink with meals but if you do have a small amount of room temperature water only. Hot and cold drinks inhibit digestion.

September 25, 2009

This is a repost of things that I feel helped me tremendously and things I'd like to pass on to all of you...Here are some steps I recommend that you try if you are diagnosed with Lupus or any other autoimmune disease:

1)Keep a food/symptom diary. This will show if you have a repeated reaction to a food that you need to avoid to feel better.

2)Also create a health "binder" the three hole type that you can put all your pertinent health information : copies of your blood tests, questions and research articles for your doctor/s, supplements, medications you are taking, allergy testing, etc (I also put in a copy of my blog in my health binder.)

3)Get tested for Celiac disease, do this BEFORE you go Gluten Free if you can. The test will not be accurate unlesss you are presently eating gluten. (often Lupus and Celiac go hand in hand,check the internet for articles)

4)Get a complete blood test from your health practitioner and also test if you are deficient in Vitamin D, Magnesium, Calcium, ( B12 and all the rest of the micronutrient testing too)deficiency in stomach acid. Check mercury levels,(and other heavy metals tests too),hormone levels, and thyroid function, adrenal function, parasites, candida, viruses in the blood, check CRP and homocysteine levels .Check for osteoporosis, bone density. Try a Metametrix Cardio ION blood test if you can afford it. This test includes many of the above tests in one all inclusive test.

5)Test for allergies(with nutritional kinesiology or IgG or IgE blood testing) (allergies and autoimmune diseases go hand in hand too again check the internet- look up "leaky gut" too) . Or try an elimination diet Dr. Cranton has a GREAT one!

6)Avoid all foods you test allergic/intolerant to.

7)Detox your body(safely) don't try anything too wacky... I like eating tons of organic veggies and fruits and making fruit or veggie juices(always fresh fruit or veggies) or smoothies(with fresh or frozen fruits/veggies). Research enemas/colonics. Sweat with a sauna(far infrared is the best) and sweat with exercise too.

8)Flood your body with nutrients, eat super healthy foods,seasonal foods, raw food diets, macrobiotic diets, drink fresh homemade juices, green smoothies, certified organic food, lots less salt(if you overdo), NEVER eat processed foods, don't drink alcohol, don't smoke, have lots of Omega 3's, no soda, avoid too much caffeine/coffee, no trans fats, no artificial sweeteners, less real sugar or no real sugar. Chew each mouthful of food many times to aid in digestion, swirl juices smoothies in your mouth to be sure they are mixed with saliva before swallowing. Try to eat in a peaceful environment.

9)Exercise(don't laugh at me) I know you are in pain, try small steps, go get the mail, walk your kids to school, park further out from the grocery store, walk walk walk anywhere you can. Stretch! Yoga Or Tai Chi or Pilates. One thing to remember, DO NOT overdo on your good days, always strive to end early don't push yourself or you will hurt and not be able to do ANYTHING tomorrow.

10)Rest when you need to, say "no" if you are too tired!

11)Stress less... try not to sweat the small stuff, practice breathing exercises, many CD's are available at your local library, Andrew Weil has some excellent CD's on breathing/relaxation visualization and healing. Watch comedies, read joke books LAUGH!!!

12)Feng Shui-or lessen the clutter, clean your environment(don't laugh at me) I know you are too tired to clean! Try to do a little at a time or at least clean your bedroom and that can be your retreat...

13)Do macrobiotic "body scrubbing" (see the internet for articles) You skin is your largest detox organ, doing this helps to detox your body.

15)See a holistic dentist, get you mercury amalgams taken out if you feel that it's necessary.

16)Detox your house and your work space and your world as much as possible.What is in your soap,shampoo, your deodorant, your toothpaste,your make up, your shaving cream,etc.?Your skin absorbs everything into your body. Try to get a shower water filter, or a whole house water filter(chlorine is a nasty chemical). Don't use bleach in your laundry, get a environmentally safe laundry soap, dishwasher soap. Don't use aluminum pans/foil(at least don't let the aluminum foil touch your food, use less canned products many are coated inside with harmful chemicals, don't wear cheap jewelry many have lead in them and other harmful chemicals, don't wear nail polish. Home carpets/rugs and paints have many nasty chemicals in them try to find environmentally safe home decor items. Use wood, stone metal rather than plastic etc. Avoid phlalates in many toiletry items(soaps, shampoos,perfume,etc.)Get an air purifier and use it. Use natural home cleaners such as vinegar and baking soda. Read the labels, look up chemicals on the internet. Some are very scary! Wear organic cotton clothing, or look for bamboo fabrics. Use glass to store foods instead of plastic. NEVER heat food in plastic in the microwave, better yet don't use a microwave oven at all. Be careful of plastic water bottles left in the car on a hot day, plastics leach chemicals into food and water when heated.

.***Always ask questions and keep reading and learning about your disease. Doctors don't know everything and there is so much information to learn. You may stumble on something that can help you and you can bring it to your doctor's attention. Good Luck!

I have written about this in the past...with each new day brings new wisdom and learning. When I first started to change my eating habits because of my allergies, I would eat GF cake and cookies, I also ate soy foods and occasionally ate items with egg in them.

Then I decided to take out those goodies/ GF carbs with all their added sugar. That left me room for more healthy foods.

I also decided to take out most of the soy from my diet. I eat very little of that now.

I also don't eat eggs at all anymore(found out by blood testing that I am extremely allergic to eggs). As per my NAET practioner I don't eat chicken either, because allergies to eggs and chicken usually appear together.

I have begun to rethink the quantitiy of dehydrated foods that I eat, because Lupus patients many times having kidney involvement. Also I have thought about making my own "raw" jelly rather than using the jarred type with so much sugar and the fruit is cooked and without enzymes. Also I want to rely less on the roasted almond butter and make my own more frequently. I have recipes for this on one of my other blogs http://lupushopecookbook.blogspot.com/2009/08/my-raw-pbj-snack.html it is called My Raw PBJ Snack.

The point I am making here is that I am evolving and making better and well thought out decisions when it comes to what I put in my mouth. I know what I put in my body is what I will get out both in more energy and greater health.

September 22, 2009

Paraffin wax candles, used mainly for romantic ambiance, fragrance and light, may also contribute to air pollution inside your home. The candles, which are made from petroleum, are a source of known human carcinogens and indoor pollution, researchers said in a study to be presented Wednesday at the American Chemical Society's national meeting in Washington, D.C. In the study, R. Massoudi and Amid Hamidi found that candles made from beeswax or soy, although more expensive, apparently are safer because they do not release potentially harmful pollutants. "An occasional paraffin candle and its emissions will not likely affect you," Hamidi said in a news release. "But lighting many paraffin candles every day for years or lighting them frequently in an unventilated bathroom around a tub, for example, may cause problems." Ventilation can help reduce the level of pollutants in closed rooms, the researchers said. Besides the more serious risks, Hamidi also said that some people who believe they have an indoor allergy or respiratory irritation may actually be reacting to pollutants from burning candles. More information The U.S. National Institutes of Health has more information on indoor air pollution.-- Dennis ThompsonSOURCE: American Chemical Society, news release, Aug. 19, 2009

Use natural and organic products whenever you can! Also get the Febreze and Glade air fresheners, etc. out of your life they are just toxic chemicals. Health Food Stores have better and healthier products to replace these to make your home smell fresh and pleasant smelling naturally!

I was watching TV the other day and came across the info-mercial for Montel Williams' Mix Master(like a Vitamix, or a Blendtec blender). I decided to watch because I have a Blendtec Blender and wanted to refresh my brain to see if I could try to use the blender for some of the other things you can do with it.(make ice cream/sorbet, make soups)

OK I'm rambling...Montel introduced some "experts" on health one was Dr. Timothy Brantley.I just got his book from the library and started reading it last night. It is called "The Cure..Heal Your Body,Save Your Life...the 12 week plan to prevent and reverse cancer, heart disease, obesity, and more"

His book is GREAT so far! Thank you God for having me find the book and thank you for letting me share this information with everyone!

September 21, 2009

Went to the NAET practioner about a week ago, and I told her I've been burping a lot lately, she said to try digestive enzymes. I told her I had "Similase" home and she said try it. I looked at the bottle and it said Gluten Free, and Wheat free and Corn Free and Soy Free etc.

Well...I tried it and the burping seemed to calm down and I was thinking GREAT another symptom gone...until...a few days later I started getting stiffer and stiffer in my joints and more pain. I decided to read the entire bottle of "Similase".

It has Maltase in it as far as I know that contains GLUTEN! I have not contacted the company yet but I stopped taking the "Similase" and I feel much better, all other things in my diet were the same as usual. I will let you know what I hear about this.......I will research further.

Something "hit" me again lately...and I wanted to write about it for you all. When you are on a raw foods diet or a macrobiotic diet many of the top allergens are not eaten. Beef, eggs, dairy etc.

If you have celiac disease you will want to avoid the grains with gluten, barley,oats rye or wheat. Many people do fine with wheat grass, sprouted wheat but you need to make you own personal decision on this.

I do a mostly raw diet with some macrobiotic diet mixed in. I am also allergic /intolerant to peppers, onions, cranberries, asparagus, corn, tomatoes, garlic, apples, bananas, that could really be incorporated into a raw or macrobiotic diet but in order to feel my best I need to avoid these foods also.

Just a note to keep an eye on your symptoms and if you consistently eat something and that day, or within a day, to 3 days later have a reaction you may want to avoid that food or foods.I like to keep a food/symptom diary for this purpose.

September 18, 2009

Kristi's "got it going on"! Great job! I have to try and contact her....she got an awful response to her Lupus healing story! Want to tell her I believe her and congratulations on healing her Lupus!Lupus DOES have TONS to do with food allergies and the foods you eat!!!

I am pretty sad, but this was not a good week to do the "Challenge" for me. I have been trying to follow what I could but being that my kids just started school and I just started teaching my class as well I haven't been able to keep up with the program as I had hoped. I think I will start today and go until next Wednesday and see how it goes....

I saw a special message in my email this morning from Ann Marie from the Renegade Health Show. In essence, she said as good and as healthy, as your diet is, you also need to pamper yourself and feel good about yourself as a woman(or a man). You will not be able to heal unless your spirit is strong too.

This made me think of lots of the people with Lupus that I have met in the past and present,it seems to me they are usually some of the nicest people ....but they are nice to a fault.You see, they do everything for everyone else and then forget to take care of themselves. Now this is not all people...but if you see yourself in this post take a breath and ask yourself (or God) what can I do for me that would make ME feel special? If you take care of yourself and give yourself some "ME" time you will have greater stores to give to others in your life!

The Naturopathic Doctor I went to said that it was the A+ blood type genes that make many people like this. A+ people generally are more concerned/worried that they may hurt someone by words and / or deeds and they don't want to hurt ANYONE'S feelings. A+ blood types are also much more prone to chronic/autoimmune disease.

Many times they bottle up their own feelings to spare another's feelings and bottled up feelings are not good for the body or for healing!

Personally I try to do a lot of different hobbies to have my peace and my "spirit building" time.I play guitar, piano, do many crafts, train my dogs, cook/prepare food, ans I just started taking a free calligraphy class at my local library. I am teaching cooking/health classes at a local High School's Adult Education.

I go for my acupuncture and my "active release therapy" and try(though many times it's tough) to make my home life as stress free as possible. I thought my life was going to be easier when school started, no such luck this year, my son is in his last year of middle school and my daughter is in her first year of high school! Oh the drama!

Again think of your blessings and pamper yourself, take care of your body, and watch what you put in it and on it, try to incorporate some breathing exercises, some stretching or yoga. And take care of yourself YOU are WORTH it!

This is a great article, but just a little warning , the writer first mentions whole grain breadsticks and crackers and then at the end says watch for food intolerances...obviously watch the whole grain products with wheat if you are wheat intolerant!

September 9, 2009

On page 250 of Suzanne Somer's book "Breakthrough.." she interviews a doctor named Howard Leibowitz and I loved what he said, it really went along with all the research I've been doing...real great confimation that I am on the right track with my health plan.

Suzanne asks how does he "treat" people?He answers, that he starts with the patient's hormone profile.Also he checks the adrenal status.He does some in depth thyroid testing.(more than the traditional doctors do)He tries to impress on the patient how important nutrition and detoxification are to the body.

He says that many times thyroid problems stem from digestive disorders like leaky gut.Leaky gut is when your intestinal walls become permeable to larger pieces of foods/proteins and they are allowed to pass through into the blood stream, then your immune system creates antibodies to get rid of these invaders and many food allergies are created this way because the large food particles/proteins are now seen as the enemy.

This doctor believes that this is the cause of fibromyalgia and lupus. He says autoimmune diseases start in the gut(as digestive issues) (I believe this too!)

How does he treat lupus and fibromyalgia? He uses:detoxificationbalances hormonescleans up the gutIV vitaminsEnergetic body work such as yoga,breath work,acupuncture, body mechanics

He says it is hard for him as a doctor to convince patients to change their diet.

He says we all eat bad food, chemicals, too much sugar, toxic substances, in our food.We also use too much antacides and all of these things lessen the hydrochloric acid and enzymes in our stomachs therefore creating food that is not properly broken down

Chewing food is CRUCIAL! You need to chew 20-30 times.(Macrobiotics says 50-100x!)If you eat too fast and don't chew and don't have the acid and enzymes your digestive tract can get inflamed.

If you continue to eat food that you are allergic/intolerant to your digestive tract will get inflamed.Many people can't properly digest wheat and dairy. Raw dairy is more easily digested for some.This isn't only because of lactose(milk sugar) it is also hard to digest casein too.(milk protein)He also looks for candida and bacterial imbalances and parasites all of these can cause inflammation in the digestive tract.

The digestive tract is 75% of the immune system, it has lymph nodes, the spleen and the liver all immune functioning organs.

EAT REAL FOOD not hormones and antibiotics and insecticides and pesticides.Eat organic foods. Eat lots of vegs and fruits and wash them very well.

Diet soda is poison!

Healthy Food(be careful because you can be intolerant to many "healthy" foods...I am!)Healthy LifestyleGet SleepGet restExercise

Do not drink coffee/caffeine all day long or your adrenals produce too much cortisol and you can burn out your adrenals.

Need to balance the HPA Axis hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal glands.

Balancing hormones can help digestion.

At night make sure you sleep in total darkness. Take melatonin to help you sleep.

September 7, 2009

If you would like to, please give the UltraSimple Diet Challenge a try with me! Here is the link if you want to sign up on line. The week of 9/8 you are supposed to shop/get ready for challenge, and the challenge starts 9/15.

I am looking at it as my rejuvenation week...my spa week....my cleansing of my spirit and body week.

On the program there is yoga, and lavendar soaks in the tub, and very mellow food for easier digestion, and supplements to rebuild your body, saunas or steam to detox your body, journaling for your soul. It is macrobiotic food, but you could probably do raw food, if that is your preference (just chew LOTS!, 50-100x a mouthful, or make your food into smoothies for easier digestion)

I am doing this low cost too. I got the book from the library, many of the supplements I am already on , I will just get a few more. You can create a steam room in your own bathroom for the steam treatment. I have a gym membership and will probably go to use their sauna, also I won a Veria basket with lavendar oil in it!

Speaking of Veria, if you have Verizon Fios TV or Satellite TV do check out the Veria Channel they are all natural and holistic ALL the time. They have excellent shows, all are great, but I love "The Incurables" the BEST! That show is how I heard about macrobiotics and raw food diets way back when, and I have been studying nutrition ever since! Thank you God!

Hi! Hope everyone is having a nice weekend, I haven't been posting much but school will start on Tuesday for my children and I will be more free to post when the mood./information strikes.

This information on becoming a patient at the UltraWellness Center is very informative. Note as you read that the doctor spends 90 minutes with you (you are also required to fill out an extensive health history that you return to them prior to you going in for your appointment).Then you see a nutritionist for 50 minutes. They do extensive testing and lab work and try to fix the organ systems in your body, to get your body running properly, to ELIMINATE disease! This is much different than the usual doctor appt that lasts about 5-8minutes and you get a diagnosis and a "prescription" for what ails you.....

September 2, 2009

I have heard many people say that their illness is a gift. You know, you'll be watching Oprah, or Dr. Phil or whatever and you'll hear people say "this cancer/other illness was a gift!" I always thought this was an odd way of looking at illness...

Well for the first time the other day I really thought of my Lupus as a gift! If I didn't have Lupus I would have never done all the research that I have done and studied how allergies and diet and and toxins all play into whether you are healthy or not. I would have never found out there are other people out there like me...never found out about autism and met the moms on GFCFKids...

With the knowledge I have now, I know I can help people, and that I am helping people...whether it's you I've helped reading this list or my children or my husband or my relatives or the students in my classes in the fall.

If people will listen and try to change their ways I can help them!

Thank you God for the knowledge You've given me and please share this knowledge through me with anyone who needs help with their health!

Mark Hyman is having " The UltraSimple Diet" challenge. I am going to try it. It is very close to what I am doing with my diet right now, but maybe I'll learn a trick or two. I have eliminated all the allergens (I know of) from my diet.I have requested the book through my library, I hope I will get it before the start date of the challenge. I also did not order the supplements from him as most of what he offered me I am supplementing already. I will just fill in the blanks, there are only a few things that I don't take already, vitamin C, rice protein shake, probiotics,multivitamin, liver supportive nutrients (I will need to get the OK from my NAET practitioner to take these.) I have a rice protein shake and also probiotics that I want to make sure my body is ready to handle, the NAET practioner tests with kinesiology(muscle testing).

Below is a test that Mark Hyman gave, to see where you are...and pick out a supplement package for you, you don't have to buy the supplements from him...you can take the test and see where you fall, and if you think it's necessary get the supplements yourself.

September 1, 2009

This blog/show has very good information. I saw a video on Balancing Hormones Naturally (thanks Lupus Girl for posting it on your blog!) and got some good information on cleansing for 3-4 days a month and other great advice. The cleasnsing was just drinking juices/or just eating just veggies for 3-4 days a month to help clean out your system and give you body a "break". Click below..

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About Me

I was diagnosed with Lupus in 2004.(but had symptoms of Lupus from about 1993). I have been researching Lupus and healing with diet and a healthy lifestyle. I have discovered that I had many food allergies/intolerances and eliminating those foods from my diet has dramatically lessened my Lupus symptoms! In researching the connection between Lupus and Celiac Disease and food allergies, I have found many prominent medical doctors have written books and articles stating this connection as well. If you work on repairing your intestines, some or all of the food allergies/intolerances will disappear because you can tolerate the foods again. Lupus Hope tells of my years of research into diet and nutrition and holistic medicine and how it can positively effect your overall health. It puts the POWER of getting well in YOUR hands. My blog was started to document my healing journey, as well as to share my journey with others with Lupus or any other autoimmune disease. Sharing a treatment or a type of diet that helped me could possibly help others as well. Knowledge is POWER! So come and learn with me!